Rating: 
Summary: Short Stories Featuring Early 19th Century Technology
Review: Although the episodes in Hornblower and the Atropos are tied together with a modest connecting story line, each one could just as easily be an independent short story about Hornblower's experiences on his way to, during, and after his assignment as captain of the Atropos, the smallest three-master in His Majesty's fleet. What positively distinguishes these stories are fascinating details of some of the most advanced technologies in the Britain of 200 years ago. You will learn about the new fresh water canals and tunnels used then to speed shipments of people and fresh market goods, underwater demolition and salvage operations, coordinating naval battles through signaling, repairing ships on station, turning a ship without using the wind, treating gunshot wounds, and how to administer a very detailed operation without use of telephone, telegraph, or radio. The book is well worth reading just for these details. The book's main disappointment for me is the absence of the redoubtable William Bush who plays such an important an interesting role as Hornblower's foil and partner in most of the novels. I missed Bush. I think you will, too. As occurs increasingly in the books in the series, Hornblower comes into contact with famous people of the day. Hornblower's success with the Hotspur has won him friends in the Admiralty, and even higher places. You will enjoy this book much more if you refer to the maps in the Hornblower Companion as you read this book. Much of the appeal of the Hornblower series is involved in the naval engagements. While this book will make it seem like all of that is going to be missed here, just be patient. One of the most interesting parts of this book comes when Hornblower uncharacteristically makes a rather large mistake, and has to face up to the fact that he may have no honorable way out. This situation reminds me of the Star Trek episode where Captain Kirk describes how he handled the insoluble problem provided to each cadet at Starfleet Academy. Yes, there is always a way out. Be curious about all that is around you, and consider how it can be turned to new advantages . . . when you change your assumptions about what is most important!
Rating:
Summary: It is very difficult to put any of the novels in this series
Review: Another excellent Hornblower adventure that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Rating: 
Summary: A wonderful tale, and very period-enlightening; a must-read.
Review: C.S. Forester creates an outstanding image of life aboard a Napoeonic-era British naval vessel, with a fascinating insight into the mind of the main character... Captain Horatio Hornblower. With assignments ranging from England to Sicily to Turkey, the crew of the Atropos must deal with everything from doldrums to privateers to political maneuvering... with words where possible, and carronade-fire when they must. To borrow an over-used term, it is a gripping tale and one that any lover of naval adventure *must* read.
Rating:
Summary: Seafaring men with cunning and bravery.
Review: Hornblower is promoted to Captain, a post rank, and quick advancement for a young officer. As the youngest Captain he gets the duty of organizing a funeral parade for Lord Nelson, during which his grand barge springs a leak and disaster is narrowly avoided. He then takes his small ship Atropos to the Mediterranean where he executes a daring and tricky salvage operation under the guns of a suspicious foreign port captain. Hornblower always manages to stir up some action. One of the best part of the whole Hornblower series is the accuracy and detail with which the life aboard vessels is depicted. You can almost feel the deck pitch. Great adventure in a great series.
Rating:
Summary: Seafaring men with cunning and bravery.
Review: Hornblower is promoted to Captain, a post rank, and quick advancement for a young officer. As the youngest Captain he gets the duty of organizing a funeral parade for Lord Nelson, during which his grand barge springs a leak and disaster is narrowly avoided. He then takes his small ship Atropos to the Mediterranean where he executes a daring and tricky salvage operation under the guns of a suspicious foreign port captain. Hornblower always manages to stir up some action. One of the best part of the whole Hornblower series is the accuracy and detail with which the life aboard vessels is depicted. You can almost feel the deck pitch. Great adventure in a great series.
Rating: 
Summary: 3.5 stars -- occasionally drags, but still good
Review: I would put this chapter in the life of Horatio Hornblower in the same category as Mr. Midshipman Hornblower -- good, not great
The 5th book in the Hornblower saga concerns a number of events related to Horatio's first command as Captain -- a 22-gun sloop of war. But it doesn't get there right away. First, we get a rather slow segment of Horatio guiding a canal boat into London, then an even slower segment in which Horatio is put in command of Lord Nelson's funeral procession. Both segments are interesting historically but drag in the narrative -- a rare occurance for Forester. Once we get out to sea, the story picks with Horatio's tour of duty in the Mediterranean trying to recover sunken English treasure. It reaches its pinnacle with the dramatic confrontation between Horatio and the Turks. I'm not sure why this didn't grip me the way the other novels did. There are some very good things about it -- the interesting dynamic with a German prince stationed aboard the Atropos for example. But the story spend a lot of time wallowing in irons instead of the usual racing before the wind. Horatio's character is static -- his usual daring and courage subdued. And the ending is rather abruptly tacked on. Still, I will recommend this book as a good part of the Hornblower saga. But it's far from the best.
Rating:
Summary: 4 recovered treasures for Hornblower
Review: In previous Hornblower novels as well as other fictional stories, C.S. Forester never failed to deliver an enjoyable story. Hornblower and the Atropos is an enjoyable story although perhaps not one of the strongest of the series. It is more a collection of short stories than a novel and perhaps can be enjoyed best in that light. Hornblower and the Atropos begins with Hornblower, his pregnant wife and child travelling along the canals of England to Hornblower's new posting. The trip is interesting in its description of the canal system and for its exploration of Hornblower's character and his relationship with his wife. Otherwise it has little relation to the subsequent action in the novel. When Hornblower returns to duty his first task is to plan and choreograph Nelson's funeral, which he does with his usual combination of dedication, competence and self-doubt. I think that the only reason to put this scene in the novel is to show that Hornblower's star is rising. I also wonder if it was written at the time of George VI's death and might have been poignant to the British readers of the day. HH's next task takes him to Turkey to recover a sunken treasure without causing a diplomatic incident. On his return he must interrupt an attack on a convoy along the way playing cat and mouse with enemy shipping. The final scene on his return is a powerful counterpoint to the opening scene. However, the whole is not greater than the sum of individual actions. Hornblower and the Atropos is an enjoyable collection of short stories told with CSF's great gift for storytelling. As a novel it is weaker than its chronological predecessors but still well worth the time spent reading it.
Rating:
Summary: The Fourth book...
Review: in the Hornblower timeline. In this book Hornblower is given 22-gun sloop barely large enough to require a captain. His first assignment is to help the funeral procession of Lord Nelson. Soon, Hornblower and his ship is off to the Mediterranean to recover treasure deep in Turkish waters. Add a German Prince, a French privateer, and a Spanish frigate several times the size of the Atropos and mix well. Lots of humor too!
Rating:
Summary: A change of pace but not of quality.
Review: It this tome we see our hero in several different lights. We see him on a long canal boat ride and explore the great Canal network that revolutionized England in the days before rail. It's not what we're used to but we share the marvel of Hornblower, although ours is a model of past ingenuity while his is of the present. We see him planning an elaborate event again in an error without stopwatches and radios. We see the complexity of the event and all that must be done to make it. We see that details of refitting to a greater degree then anywhere else in the series as he gets a ship with a crew not ready and a dull first officer, the reliable Mr. Bush is of course aboard a ship which fought at Trafalgar and Mr. John Jones proves as ordinary as his name. The climax of the story takes place in Turkish waters with a dozen twists and turns to make a mission successful. This volume gives us backround of all the tasks of a captain including some of the more mundane ones. Its a different view that any other we'll get till much later in the series when those details will not be his problem. If you demand non stop action then this volume of the series will be slow to start for you, if not then you'll like it as much as I did.
Rating:
Summary: A change of pace but not of quality.
Review: It this tome we see our hero in several different lights. We see him on a long canal boat ride and explore the great Canal network that revolutionized England in the days before rail. It's not what we're used to but we share the marvel of Hornblower, although ours is a model of past ingenuity while his is of the present. We see him planning an elaborate event again in an error without stopwatches and radios. We see the complexity of the event and all that must be done to make it. We see that details of refitting to a greater degree then anywhere else in the series as he gets a ship with a crew not ready and a dull first officer, the reliable Mr. Bush is of course aboard a ship which fought at Trafalgar and Mr. John Jones proves as ordinary as his name. The climax of the story takes place in Turkish waters with a dozen twists and turns to make a mission successful. This volume gives us backround of all the tasks of a captain including some of the more mundane ones. Its a different view that any other we'll get till much later in the series when those details will not be his problem. If you demand non stop action then this volume of the series will be slow to start for you, if not then you'll like it as much as I did.
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